Salem Convention Center named best Oregon convention center The Salem Convention Center has capped its tenth anniversary year by earning the prestigious “Best of the Best 2015” award from Northwest Meetings & Events magazine. Selected as the Best Convention Center in Oregon by meeting and event planners from Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, the Salem Convention Center ranked above the Oregon Convention Center and the Portland Art Museum. Salem Convention Center combines a convenient Oregon location, arresting architecture and a significant collection of museum-quality art with outstanding catering and over-the-top customer service. The adjoining 193-room Grand Hotel and Bentley's Grill restaurant make up the rest of the city block, providing lodging, food and free parking under the same roof as the convention center. “We're thrilled to win first prize after being in the top three finalists for five years in a row. Professional meeting planners chose us over larger venues because they recognize the high quality of our entire operation, from the catering teams to our banquet workers to our on-staff meeting planners,” says Donna Earley, SCC's director of sales and marketing. “Add in our truly beautiful meeting spaces, the location just off I-5 in the middle of the Willamette Valley, and our commitment to sustainability, and our venue exceeds expectations every time.” The Salem Convention Center hosts more than 500 events each year, with approximately 90,000 attendees annually. “We have dozens of repeat customers every year. One group has already booked its annual conference with us through 2020,” says Chrissie Bertsch, SCC general manager. With nearly 900,000 event attendees and more than $33 million in total net revenue since 2005, the SCC has shown steady revenue growth, year over year, and boasts an unbroken record of operating in the black. These stats make its designation as the best Oregon convention center unsurprising. Attendees travel from around the state, region, nation and across the globe to attend multi-day conventions and conferences and one-day or half-day workshops and meetings. The SCC also hosts a regular stream of clients celebrating weddings, family reunions, special occasions and fundraisers. “What a professional bunch of people,” said Carol Johnson of Noble Mountain Tree Farm. “I've put together conferences and business meetings, from the short and sweet to the days-long. There has always been some kind of ‘issue.' The pros at the Salem Convention Center made sure beforehand that there were no issues, and we had smooth sailing all the way.” The Salem Convention Center earns its title as the best Oregon convention center with 14 flexible meeting rooms on two floors, allowing them to accommodate up to 1800 people in 30,000 square feet for business, association, government or family and social events. Staff is recognized again and again for their “no hiccups” attention to detail. Meeting planners consistently choose this Oregon Convention Center for their clients because they can count on the experienced and skilled team at the SCC. “We've used the SCC in the past and have always been pleased with their service,” said Roberta Janssen with the Oregon National Guard Association. “The positive attitude of Salem Convention Center workers makes interactions pleasant and the event staff makes preparation easy.Those who come to the conference experience a clean, open, inviting space. We will definitely be back.” The contemporary building, designed by LMN Architects of Seattle, offers large rooms up to 11,400 square feet which are easily divided to host smaller groups. Designed from the ground up to be environmentally friendly and energy efficient, this Oregon convention center is LEED and EarthWISE certified. Salem Convention Center's extensive art collection showcases local and regional artists. Salem Convention Center is managed by The Salem Group, LLC. The numbers: Opened: March, 2005 Construction cost: $32 million Total net revenue as of June 2015: More than $33 million Local hotel room nights sold for SCC event attendees, March 2005 to June 2015: More than 83,000 Total attendees, March 2005 to June 2015: 877,000 Total events, March 2005 to June 2015: More than 5,600 Awards and Certifications: Northwest Construction's Best Architectural Design, 2004 One of the 100 Best Green Companies in Oregon, Oregon Business Magazine One of the Top Three Best Convention/Conference Venues in Oregon, chosen by meeting planners through Northwest Meetings & Events, 2012, 2013 and 2014 LEED certified, EarthWISE certified Member, United States Green Building Council Managed by: The Salem Group, LLC For more information, please contact: Chrissie Bertsch, The Salem Group, LLC chrissie@salemconventioncenter.org 503-779-1403
